Boat hull construction



Dec. 7, 1965 R. J. KELLER BOAT HULL CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1964 Q INVENTOR. ROGENALD J IfELLER ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1965 R. J. KELLER BOAT HULL CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1964 INVENTOR. ROGENALD J. KELLER Dec. 7, 1965 R. J. KELLER 3,221,351

BOAT HULL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 30, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7

INVENTOR. RocE/vALo J KELLER 6 wwzw A TT OP/VE Y8 United States Patent 3,221,351 BOAT HULL CONSTRUCTION Rogenald .l'. Keller, Caseo Point, Rte. 1, Wayzata, Minn. Filed Jan. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 341,180 4 (Ilaims. (Cl. 9-6) This invention relates generally to constructions for boats, and more particularly it relates to an improved construction for boat hulls.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of an improved boat hull construction particularly useful for carrying increased loads of heavy cargo or passengers.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved hull construction for boats which is designed to carry heavy loads at relatively high rates of speed.

Another highly important object of my invention is the provision of a boat which, by virtue of the ratio of the maximum width thereof to length dimension (approximately equal), coupled with the novel frontal design, brings into being a boat which, either under power or while stationary, draws less water per weight than any other boat heretofore developed.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved construction for boat hulls which affords increased stability in rough water and which also is designed for the cushioning of shocks when traveling at relatively high rates of speed.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a boat hull having a pair of bow plates which extend between the angularly disposed sheer line edge por tions of the bow and the angularly disposed front edge portions of the flat bottom and which bow plates include angularly outwardly and rearwardly extending lap strake portions adapted to give the boat stability and a smooth ride at relatively high rates of speed and in rough water.

Still further objects of the present invention reside in the provision of a boat hull construction which may be manufactured at a relatively low level of cost, and which is also durable and strong throughout long periods of continued use.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed specification, appended claims, and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts or elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view of the boat hull in bottom plan;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation;

FIG. 4 is a view in top plan;

FIG. 5 is a view in rear elevation;

FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 99 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1 thereof, the boat hull of the present invention comprises a generally flat pentagonal bottom 1 having a squared off transom edge portion 2 and side edge portions 3, 4 which extend forwardly from and generally perpendicular to the 3,221,351 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 transom edge portion 2. The generally fiat bottom 1 further comprises forwardly and inwardly extending front edge portions 5, 6 which are acutely angled with respect to one another toward the bow stem portion 7 of the boat. The bottom 1 further comprises an elongated fore and aft extending keel 8 which tapers from a relatively thicker portion at the rear thereof to a relatively thinner front keel portion.

The novel hull construction of the present invention further comprises a bow 9 having angularly disposed sheer line edge portions 10, 11 which are disposed forwardly of but generally parallel with the respective front edge portions 5, 6 of the bottom 1. The boat includes a bow deck 12 extending between the sheer line edge portions 10, 11 for a major portion of their length.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5, the boat transom 13 is shown therein, the same being formed to define a pair of transversely spaced motor mounting recesses 14. The boat further comprises upwardly and outwardly angled sides 15, 16 which extend in directions generally parallel with the keel 8.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a pair of bow plates 17, 18 which are disposed between the sheer edge portions 10, 11 of the bow 9 and the front edge portions 5, 6 of the bottom 1. The bow plates 17, 18 meet in the center to define the previously noted bow stern portion 7. The bow plates 17, 18 include angularly outwardly and rearwardly extending lap strake portions 19, 20, respectively, which are disposed generally at the bottom of the bow plates 17, 18 adjacent the bottom front edge portions 5, 6. The provision of the lap strake portions 19, 20 of the bow plates 17, 18 is an important feature of the present invention since the same act to cushion and add stability to the movement of the boat. It is noted that the various strakes 21 of the lap strake portions 19, 20 on each of the bow plates 17, 18 are generally straight and parallel with one another, as shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be noted that the side edge portions 3, 4 of the pentagonal bottom I join with the sides 15, 16 of the boat to define chine lines. Further, the forward edges of the boat sides 15, 16 join with the rear portions of the opposed bow plates 17, 18 to define upwardly and forwardly extending edge portions 22, 23.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the bow deck 12 terminates in spaced relation forwardly of the boat sides 15, 16 and defines a depending panel 24. The sheer line edge portions 10, 11 of the bow 9 and the upper edge portions of the boat sides 15, 16 define gunwale strips 25.

The novel boat hull construction disclosed he ein may be formed from suitable materials, such as sheet metal, fiberglass or plywood, for example. The boat hull of the present invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the performance of the above-noted objects; and while preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, it should be specifically understood that the same may be modified without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a boat hull, a bow having angularly disposed sheer line edge portions running angularly outwardly and rearwardly from a center, a stem extending generally angularly rearwardly and downwardly from the center of the bow, a generally flat bottom having angularly disposed front edge portions which extend forwardly and inwardly to the stem of the boat, a pair of bow plates disposed between the sheer line edge portions of the bow and the bottom front edge portions and each one located on an opposite side of the stern and the center line length of said generally flat bottom approximating the maximum width of said boat.

2. In a boat hull, a bow stem, a generally fiat bottom comprising a squared off rear edge portion and angularly disposed front edge portions which extend generally forwardly and inwardly toward the stem of the boat, a bow having angularly disposed sheer line edge portions running generally angularly outwardly and rearwardly in general parallelism with the front edge portions of the bottom, a pair of angularly disposed bow plates disposed between the sheer line edge portions and the bottom front edge portions each one on an opposite side of the bow stem, said how plates including angularly outwardly and rearwardly extending lap strake portions disposed generally at the bottom thereof and adjacent the bottom front edge portions, and the center line length of said generally fiat bottom approximating the maximum width of said boat.

3. In a boat hull, a pentagonal flat bottom having side edge portions extending forwardly from and generally perpendicular to a bottom transom edge portion and also having forwardly and inwardly extending front edge portions which are acutely angled with respect to one another, a bow having angularly disposed sheer line edge portions disposed forwardly of but generally parallel with g the respective front edge portions of the bottom, a pair of bow plates disposed between the sheer edge portions of the bow and the front edge portions of the bottom, said bow plates including angularly outwardly and rearwardly extending lap strake portions disposed generally at the bottom thereof and adjacent the bottom front edge portions, opposed sides for said boat hull, and a transom.

4. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said boat has opposite sides each of which joins with the adjacent one of the opposed bow plates to define an upwardly and forwardly extending edge portion at the opposite sides of said bow.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,010,376 11/1911 Von Keissler 11456 3,040,687 6/1962 Huet 96 3,060,464 10/ 1962 Robison 96 3,078,819 2/1963 Kiss 11466.5 3,092,854 6/1963 Manhart 911 MILTON BUCI-ILER, Primary Examiner.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Examiner. 

1. IN A BOAT HULL, A BOW HAVING ANGULARLY DISPOSED SHEER LINE EDGE PORTIONS RUNNING ANGULARLY OUTWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM A CENTER, A STEM EXTENDING GENERALLY ANGULARLY REARWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FROM THE CENTER OF THE BOW, A GENERALLY FLAT BOTTOM HAVING ANGULARLY DISPOSED FRONT EDGE PORTIONS WHICH EXTEND FORWARDLY AND INWARDLY TO THE STEM OF THE BOAT, A PAIR OF BOW PLATES DISPOSED BETWEEN THE SHEER LINE EDGE PORTIONS OF THE BOW AND THE BOTTOM FRONT EDGE PORTIONS AND EACH ONE LOCATED ON AN OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STEM AND THE CENTER LINE LENGTH OF SAID GENERALLY FLAT BOTTOM APPROXIMATING THE MAXIMUM WIDTH OF SAID BOAT. 